Disclaimer: I own nothing!
The End Of The Line
Chapter 10
Alexs POV
"Mum?" Erin said.
"Yes, love?" I replied.
"Is it just me or do you hear someone following us?" he asked.
"I don't hear anything." I replied.
"Would you trust my judgement if I just outright told you to run, or would you punish me?" he asked.
"It depends on if there's danger our not." I replied.
"What if I thought there was danger, told you to run, but there was none and I was simply wrong?"
"Then I suppose I could give you the benefit of the doubt. That is, if you truly thought there was danger."
"Ok then. . ." he said. He looked over his shoulder then looked forward. "Mum. . ."
"Yes?"
"RUN!"
I looked behind but had no time as someone grabbed me from behind. "Note to self... listen your son next time, idiot!" I thought to myself.
"MUM!" Erin exclaimed.
I bit the mans hand when he tried to cover my mouth.
He gave a cry of pain.
Taking the weakness, I reeled my arm forward, ramming my elbow into his stomach.
The man collapsed to his knees.
"Ok, now say it." I said looking at Erin.
"Run?" he said.
"Yeah that." I said grabbing his hand and running down the street.
To my great relief he was able to keep pace. To my great horror I could now hear the man chasing us. Oh well, at least I had a bow at home stashed under the bed. But the man was gaining ground.
The house was now in sight. Now did that make things better? No. Because the man now had a grip on Erin's arm. Before I knew it he was ripped from my grasp. But he wasn't going down without a fight.
I heard the front doors of many houses opening, and thankfully one was my own.
"Mum! Get the bow!" I called.
I saw her run back in the house. I only prayed it wouldn't be to late.
But the stranger had let Erin go and reached for me instead. Although that had been a mistake. I saw the fire coming to Erin's eyes.
Maybe he's a bit too much like Edmund. . .
He jumped on the strangers back making the man lose his grip on me. Erin managed to wrestle him to the ground. But it cost him as he fell, scraping up most of his leg on the concrete.
Mum ran up beside me, the bow with an arrow already on the string.
I narrowed my eyes at the man and pulled the string back. "Erin, behind me." I said.
Thankfully he did as he was told.
"And as for you-" I said pointing the bow at the stranger "Give me one good reason not to kill you." I said.
"Alex, don't get yourself in trouble."
I looked up to see the next door neighbor, Thomas, standing there. His wife was standing in the door of there home. Of course Thomas would come to help. He was Edmund's good friend and Thomas wife was a good friend of mine.
I looked down at the man. "You see that tree over there?" I asked.
He looked over and nodded. I aimed at the tree before losing the arrow. It struck the mark and the strangers eyes widened.
"That could have been you." I said.
"Where did you learn that?" Thomas asked.
"I used to live in the country." I said. It's not a complete lie.
"I don't suppose you could teach Natalie. . ." he said.
I smiled. "It would be a pleasure."
Soon the police showed and took the man where he truly deserved; jail.
They had just pulled away when Erin walked up, the arrow in his hand. "You'll probably want that." he smiled.
I looked down at his leg and grimaced. Even though he huffed, I picked him up.
"Is he alright?" Thomas asked.
"I'm fine." Erin replied before I could say anything.
"He's just as stubborn as Edmund. So he may or may not be ok." I replied.
Thomas nodded then smiled wider than I had ever seen him smile. "We just found out yesterday that Natalie's pregnant." he said.
"Really?" I gasped.
He nodded excitedly.
"Congratulations." I smiled "If you need any help don't be afraid to call. Edmund should be home any day now, but he won't be able to go back to work quite yet." I said.
"How is he?" he asked.
"Oh good. Very good." I replied.
He smiled again. "That's wonderful. Now you best get inside." he said.
"Thanks again." I said.
"It was no problem." he said.
I smiled. "Well we'll see you later." I said.
He nodded and walked back to Natalie.
I carried Erin inside and set him up on the counter. I grimaced as I noticed just how deep the scrape was and just how long it went up his leg. "How bad does it hurt?" I asked.
He didn't answer, looking down at his hands.
"Erin. . ." I said.
"Pretty bad." he admitted.
I nodded and sighed. "Well I have to clean it. So bare with me, alright?" I said.
He nodded and turned closer to the sink.
Mum came over to help and I noticed she turned a sickly green color.
Finally I had his leg cleaned free of the blood and dirt. I took care of the smaller scrape on his other knee. But his left leg was the one that took the beating. And that was the one that I had to wrap up tight.
He limped rather badly on it but it otherwise didn't seem to bother him. I knew I would have to watch it closely to keep it from getting infected. When he was in his pajamas I walked into his room.
He looked up at me, his eyes showing just how tired he was.
I sat down on the end of his bed and motioned for him to sit beside me. "Sweetheart, why did you tackle that man knowing he was so much bigger than you?" I asked.
"I promised dad I would protect you if he couldn't." he replied simply.
"Oh, love, you know you don't have to do that." I sighed.
"Yes I do. I promised him I would." he said nodding.
"But you're still a child right now. You're only 6. You should still be able to cry at wounds like this and yet you keep a brave face, able to handle it. I don't even want to know what kind of wounds you've faced before. But right now, you're still my little boy, and it's your fathers and my job to protect you, not the other way around." I said.
"But I'm older than that. I'm not 6. I'm 28." he said.
I smiled. "But you're body isn't exactly caught up with that." I said.
He sighed.
"But it will someday. I don't know what happened in those fifteen years you spent in Narnia. But I know that someday you'll be just as strong as you were." I said.
He finally smiled.
"And when your father and I are all wrinkly you'll be able to protect us then." I said.
He chuckled.
At this I pulled my arm around him, but instead of hugging him, I tickled him. When I was satisfied that he had laughed enough, I let him go, now laughing myself. He looked up at me, the hair in his eyes.
"Looks like someone needs a haircut." I smiled.
He dove under the covers and peaked out at me, shaking his head.
"Do I have to come under there after you?" I asked.
He dove further under.
"Alright, I'm coming in!" I said pulling the covers back.
Jokingly he squeaked.
I laughed and pulled him upright, pulling the covers over him. "Sleep well, love." I smiled kissing him on the forhead.
"I love you." he yawned.
"I love you too. Now get some rest." I smiled turning the lights out.